Awning-operating mechanism.



Patented A r. 3- |900.'- w .loHNsoN p AWNING DPERAT'ING IIIIEGHANISM.

(No Model.)

(Application tiled. Mar. $29e 1899.)

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f UNITED STATES PATENT EEIOE.

wALERED JOHNSON, or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

AWNiNG-OPERATING MECHANISM.

SrEcIEIoArIoN forming part f Letters Patent No. 646,838, dated Apri-i s, 190e.

' Appleman nea-March 29,1999. sern1No.71o,999. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

lBe it known that I, WALFRED JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mil-V waukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Awning-Operating Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in awning-operating mechanism.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of awning-operating mechanism and toprovide a simple, inexpensive, and eiiicient device adapted to be readily adjusted to maintain the sprocket-chain of an awning taut andcapable of convenient operation to raise and lower an awning and of locking the same in either position to prevent accidents from occurring through ignorance or by meddlesome persons.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out inthe claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device. constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5 5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the spring-actuated pawl. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the engaging end of the lever. l

Like numerals ot' reference designate corresponding parts in all the igures of the drawings.

l designates a vertically-adj ustable bracket provided with a spindle or stub-shaft 2 and having an annular series of ratchet-teeth, adapted to be engaged by a pawl 4 of a sprocket-wheel 5, and the said teeth, which are tapered, as shown,have both of their side faces shouldered in order to lock the sprocketpinion'against movement in either direction. The sprocket-pinion, which is designed to be connected with the sprooket-chain of an awning, is hollow and is provided with a hub 6, consisting of a sleeve spaced from the periphery orl rim of the wheel, upon which the sprocketteeth are formed. The stub-shaft or spindle is bored longitudinally to receive a rivet7 or other suitable fastening device, having a washer 8 at its outer end to engage the outer face of the pinion and provided at its inner end with a suitable head for engaging the back of the bracket. By this construction the sprocket-pinion is securely mounted on the bracket.

The pawl t, which is curved, is arranged in the annular space between the hub of the wheel and the periphery thereof, and it is provided at its terminals with oppositely-disposed projecting portions 9 and 10. The pro.- jecting portion 9 forms a tooth and-is ada ted to engage the ratchet-teeth of the brac'et, whereby the pinion is locked against movement in either direction. The other projecting portion 10 extends outward into an o ening 11 of the pinion, and its outer end is u'sh with the outer face of said pinion. The pawl is disengaged from the ratchet-teeth of the bracket by means of a lever 12, provided at one en d with a laterally-extending pivot 13 and having a lug 111 between its ends to engage and depress the pawl and lift the inner end of the same from the ratchet-teeth, so that the pinion may be rotated to raise and lower an awning. The inner end of the pawl is held in engagement with the teethv of the bracket bymeans of a spring 15, interposed between the pinion and the pawl, which is pivoted between its ends by a pin A16 or other suitable fastening device passing through registering perforations of the pawl and the rim and hub of the pinion. The laterally-disposed pivot of the lever engages detacha'bly a perforation 1S of a .lug 19, arranged at one side of the pinion, and the latter is provided at its opposite side with a lug 20, located adjacent to the opening l1 and adapted to engage. a slot or opening 21 of the lever 12. The lever 12, which forms a handle for rotating the pinion, is interlocked with the same by placing the pivot 13 in the perforation of the lug 19. The lever is then forced inward toward the pinion to bring the lug 2O in the slot or opening 21 and to cause the projection or lug to depress the outer end of the pawl to free the pinion, and the latter may then be rotated to raise and lower an awning. As soon as the outer end of the pawl is relieved of the pressure of the lever the spring will throw its inner end into engagement with the ratchet-teeth,where by the awning will be locked against move- IOO ment in either direction. After the lever is removed from the pinion the latter will remain locked, and the awning cannot be raised or lowered and injured through ignorance or by meddlesome persons.

In order to enable the sprocket-chain of an awning-gearing to be tightened, the bracket or plate l is adjustably mounted on a frame or plate 22, provided at its ends with perforations for the reception of suitable fastening devices for mounting it in position and having a longitudinally-oiset slotted portion forming ways 23, arranged at opposite sides of the slot 24: and receiving substantially T-shaped lugs 25 and 26 of the bracket. The frame is provided at the top and at an intermediate point with transverse branches or openings 27 and 28, adapted to permit the lugs of the bracket to be introduced into and removed from the longitudinal ways of the frame. The lug 25 has its central or neck portion oppositely beveled to form a tooth 29, which is adapted to engage a series of teeth 30, formed in the edge of the frame or plate, at the upper portion of the slot at one side thereof. The tooth of the bracket is locked in engagement with the teeth of the frame by means of a wedge 31, interposed between the raised or ofset portion of the frame and one of a pair of longitudinal side anges 32 and 33, arranged at the edges of the bracket. The side fiange 33 extends inward on the inner face of the bracket and is substantially wedge-shaped to conform to the eoniiguration of the adjustable wedge 3l and coperate with the same in locking the bracket at the desired adjustment.

The invention has the following advantages: The device, which is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, is strong and durable and adapted to lock an awning against movement in either direction, so that it cannot be accidentally operated and injured through ignorance or by meddlesome persons. The bearing-bracket, which carries the pinion, is also capable of being readily adjusted to regulate the tension vof the sprocket-chain of an awning.

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and the minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

l. A device of the class described comprising a bracket having ratchet-teeth, a hollow pinion mounted on the bracketand provided with an opening, a spring actuated pawl mounted within the pinion, normally engaging the ratchet-teeth of the bracket and located at the said opening in position to be depressed to release the pinion, and a lever interlocked with the pinion and having a rigid lug arranged to extend through the opening and adapted to engage the pawl, substantially as described. f

2. A device of the class described comprising a bracket, a hollow pinion mounted on the bracket and provided with an opening, a curved spring-actuated pawl pivoted between its ends on the pinion and having its inner end engaging the bracket, the outer end of the pawl being arranged in the opening of the pinion, and a lever interlocked with the pinion and having a rigid lug or projection to extend into the said opening for depressing the pawl, substantially as described.

3. A device of the class described comprising a bracket or support, a pinion mounted thereon and provided at opposite sides with lugs and having an opening adjacent to one of the lugs, a pawl mounted within the pinion and engaging the bracket, and a lever fulcrurned on one of the lugs and having a slot to receive the other lug and provided with a projection arranged to extend into the said opening to depress the pawl, substan tiallj7 as described.

4. A device of the class described comprising a bracket, a pinion provided with an opening, a pawl mounted on the pinion and arranged within the same and adapted to e11- gage the bracket, alug carried by the pinion, and a lever detachably fulcrumed on the lug and having a rigid projection adapted to extend through the opening of the pinion and engage the pawl, substantially as described.

5. A device of the class described comprising a frame, a bracket adjustably mounted on the frame, means for securing the bracket at the desired adjustment, a pinion mounted on the bracket, and means for operating the pinion and for locking the same against rotation, substantially as described.

6. A device of the class described comprising a frame having a longitudinal slot and provided with transverse openings, abracket provided with T-shaped lugs adapted to pass through the transverse openings and engaging the frame at opposite sides of the longitudinal slot, one of the lugs forming a tooth for engaging one side of the frame, a wedge IIO interposed between the bracket and the frame for holding the tooth in engagement with the latter, and a pinion mounted on the bracket, substantially as described.

7 A device of the class described comprisinga frame having a slot and provided at one side with teeth, a bracket arranged to slide on the frame and having a tooth operating in the slot to engage the said teeth, --said bracket having a wedge-shaped flange or portion, lugs carried by the bracket and extending through the slot ofthe frame and engaging the inner face thereof, and an adjustable wedge interposed between the Wedge-shaped iiange or portion, and the frame, and holding the tooth of the bracket in engagement with the teeth of the frame, substantially as described.

8. A device of the class described comprising a frame having a raised portion and provided with a slot, a bracket having a tooth operating in the slot to engage the frame,

said bracket being provided at opposite sides In testimony that I claim the foregoing as of the raised portion of the frnmewith flanges, my own I have hereto aftixed my signature in 1o lugs extending from the bracket through the the presence of two Witnesses. slot of the frame and engaging the inner face Y y i 5 of the latter, a Wedge interposed between one WALFRED JOHNSON' of the flanges and the said raised portion, and Witnesses: t pinion carried by the bracket, substantially ANTON LINDNER, as described. WILLIAM E. JOHNSON. 

